Councillor who referred to as Holocaust ‘hoax’ quits Reform days after election
Jay Cooper has stepped down less than a week after being elected to represent the Bootle West ward on Sefton Council in Merseyside
Jay Cooper has quit Reform UK
A Reform councillor who claimed the Holocaust was a “hoax” has quit just days after being elected.
Jay Cooper was chosen to represent the Bootle West ward on Sefton Council in Merseyside in last week’s local elections, winning 705 votes. But less than a week into the job, the councillor has stepped down over vile comments made on social media last year.
Sharing an article about the fatal shooting of US commentator Charlie Kirk, he wrote: “Heartbreaking. Murdered for having an opinion.” In response to a comment that asked: “[Adolf] Hitler had an [opinion] too; did he deserve to die?,” Cooper said he did not agree with the murder of innocent people, but branded the Holocaust a “hoax” and “propaganda.”
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On a visit to Merseyside, Farage said Cooper was “not welcome” in Reform, reports the Liverpool Echo. Cooper has now deleted the posts from his public Facebook page and issued an apology. He has resigned from the party but will continue to represent his ward as an independent councillor.
He said: “I apologise this has took (sic) so long. I want to start by addressing comments I made regarding the Holocaust last year. The Holocaust was real. I was not denying the existence of the camps or the systematic murder carried out by the Nazi regime.
“I have visited Auschwitz multiple times and have seen first hand the conditions and historical evidence of those atrocities. My comments were poorly expressed and have understandably caused concern and upset. I was not denying the suffering of millions of victims or the crimes committed by the Nazis.
“I accept that my words failed to reflect the seriousness and sensitivity this subject demands, and for that I sincerely apologise. I would also like to apologise to anyone who was offended or hurt by my comments. I take full responsibility for my remarks. As a result, I have decided today to resign from Reform UK and continue serving as an independent representative.”
He continued: “The people of Bootle West voted for me to be their voice, and I remain committed to serving them honestly and tirelessly. I will be here to listen and be the voice of my constituents. I want to thank everyone who placed their trust in me. Too many people in Bootle still feel ignored, left behind, and unheard.
“I will continue working every day to justify the confidence shown in me, while also earning the respect of those who did not vote for me. I hope, in time, my actions and service to the community will speak louder than this mistake.”
The BBC reported Reform UK confirmed Cooper had resigned and said his party membership had been revoked.
Cooper’s resignation comes after fellow newly-elected Reform UK councillor Stuart Prior also resigned. Stuart Prior was one of 53 Reform members elected to Essex County Council last week as Nigel Farage’s party earned a majority. Prior resigned from the council and has been expelled from the party days after the Mirror exposed him for ‘racist bile’ on social media.
